Notes on how we travel

<spoiler> snacks are involved 😛

Udi and I were avid travelers before we had a kid. We backpacked through parts of SouthEast Asia, roadtripped through Europe, we even lived nomadically for the better part of 2 years after moving to the States. I’d like to think that with all of that packing and unpacking, we’d gained a few helpful insights.

Then we had Loosha.

I wouldn’t dare pretend like what I’ve listed below mitigates the truly challenging parts of traveling as a family. Those are embedded in the journey and you learn to cope differently in order to deal with them better and better each time you get the fortune to do it. Like literally every other part of parenting, it is learned on the job.

Instead, what I can offer, are a few little things that have been helpful to us so far on our journeys. Take it or leave it.

For the flight:

• Get your kid (s) a seat hammock, especially for long ass flights. This dumb $26 flap of fabric with buckles gets attached to the tray table and sort of extends the seat out in front of them. Could you probably rig something for less? Yes. Have we tried and failed at that? Yes. Just buy this one instead. Loosha is a notoriously not-so-great plane sleeper and the extra space supporting her legs and toesies allows her to change positions and get cozy without all frustrated squirming about.

• Okay, this is actually a big one. Pack exclusively new and downright exciting snacks for the plane ride. Get your ass to a Trader Joe’s, because no store on the planet is spewing out new snacks on the reg like TJ’s and you know it. And do not make the rookie mistake of showing your kid these snacks before the flight. They are to be randomly revealed throughout the plane ride because you are in fact a magician.

• This might sound very trad-wifey of me, but bring a small, well-sealed Tupperware from home filled with cut up pieces of whatever fruits and veggies left in the fridge before the trip. Apple slices, carrot sticks, some cherry tomatoes. We eat a ton of crap on the plane and we also devour this. Then use the Tupperware throughout the trip to pack fresh stuff for a hike, beach hang, or long car rides.

• Keep a small arsenal of plastic bags or stasher bags, rubber bands, and snack clips in one of the carry bags. This one also comes in handy for hikes, day trips, beach days etc.

  

  this is the one i just unpacked from Europe.

• All backpacks being used for flights and travel in general must have a water bottle holder on both sides. No explanation needed.

• Emergency sandwiches for the plane.

• This magic pen coloring thingy is an absolute long plane ride winner. The best part, no water. (IYKYK)

• The tote that lives inside my carry-on. That’s the trick. I keep all the plane food in a tote bag and then pack that tote inside my carry on to keep me hands free. Once I’ve boarded I just yank that whole tote out and flarp it on the ground for easy access.

• We pack Loosha the usual roster of coloring stuff, stickers, and books, but I also include a couple of small tshatshkes to play little games with and act out stories mid flight. *tshatshke being the Yiddish word for stupid crap or knickknacks. These can be little figurines or a couple of miniature barn animals, whatever floats you kids imaginary boat.

  

  Loosha’s tshatshkies

• Changes of clothing are a no brainer and here’s my policy: kids need one full set of extra clothes on the plane. In the off chance that they spill an entire plastic cup of bubble water or worse, vomit, you are prepared. I also bring a pair of underwear for each of the grown ups present in the case of baggage issues, reroutes, etc. I have never regretted having an extra emergency pair with me, but I have regretted NOT having them with me, ok?

• Carabiner clips. We always have one or two on each of our backpacks for hanging stuff off the bag. Hats, sandals with straps, wet bathing suits or a drying towel, a bag of trash you need to get rid of. Keeps your hands free to deal with all the other shit (or children) you are likely carrying.

• IPads for kids on planes are an absolute delight. If that’s not your thing I totally get it. I’m just saying you can choose to seek out some relaxation mid flight with your kid glued to a screen tucked safely next to you. Knowing that travel with kids is hard enough as is, maybe your central nervous system also needs a wittle break to watch a bad movie or two?

Checked baggage: (the name of my all women’s grunge cover band)

• Packing cubes are essential to my life and I cannot travel without them, no further questions.
  …but seriously! you can separate all your stuff into categories and then just live out of your cubes if you want to. Imagine being able to easily locate the pajama cube for your kid after flying for 15+ hours while trying to dress them in the dark because they finally fell asleep in the 20 minute taxi ride to the rental!

• Pack an emergency soft duffel bag in case (for whatever reason;) ) you max out on space while traveling. This one is super durable and squishes up light and small, we bring it on every single trip even if we don’t end up using it.

• Bring a big extra lightweight bag just for laundry.

• Toiletries: I tend to bring my own bar of soap (Dr. Bronner’s) because not all soap feels like soap, do you know what I mean? And a basic medley of children’s meds just so no one is looking for a 24 hour pharmacy in the middle of the night in another language. And a thermometer.

• An empty water bottle for Loosha. Because children of this generation are exceedingly more hydrated than we ever were. It means that one water bottle is for home and one comes with us when we leave the house everyday.

• Always, always, always pack more than enough underwear in your suitcase. I don’t care who you are, you will never be mad at too many pairs of clean underwear at your disposal.